GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN ARTS, CULTURE AND PARKS

$5.0 Million for Creative Saskatchewan and Increases to Saskatchewan Arts Board and Provincial Parks

The 2013-14 Budget invests $5.0 million in an investment fund for Creative Saskatchewan, a new agency announced earlier this year to assist in marketing and selling the work of Saskatchewan’s creative industries.

“One of the advantages of our growing province is the ability to invest in our creative sector,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty said.  “This investment is the result of months of consultations with the creative industries in Saskatchewan.  We already knew that we have a wealth of creative talent in this province, and now we will have an agency, and the funding, to market that talent to the rest of Canada and the world.”

Legislation is being introduced to create Creative Saskatchewan.  The $5.0 million investment fund will be available to music, film, digital media, visual arts, crafts, publishing and the performing arts producers to bring their products to market.  A working group has been established that includes representatives from the Saskatchewan Arts Board, SaskFilm, Saskatchewan Media Production Industry Association, Saskatchewan Publishers Group, CARFAC (Canadian Artists Representation Le Front Des Artistes Canadiens), Saskatchewan Interactive Media Association, SaskArt, SaskMusic, Dance Saskatchewan, the theatre community in Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Craft Council.

The budget also provides a five per cent increase to the Saskatchewan Arts Board.

Other budget highlights include $100,000 into the RCMP Heritage Centre and $50,000 to create a new military history project to remember and celebrate Saskatchewan’s contributions and sacrifices.

Funding for provincial parks will increase by six per cent this year.  Over the past five years, the government has increased funding to provincial parks for operating and capital by $8 million, an increase of 38.8 per cent.  Part of that increase is government’s commitment to investing an additional $10 million over four years in capital funding to improve provincial parks – this is the second year of that commitment.

“A vibrant arts community and our beautiful provincial parks are two key elements of our great quality of life here in Saskatchewan,” Doherty said.  “Investing in these areas will further contribute to our province’s economic growth, with increased economic outputs from the creative industries and increased tourism to our provincial parks.  These are smart investments.”

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For more information, contact:

Jennifer Johnson
Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0619
Email: jennifer.johnson@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-529-5805